 | « Back to article | Print this article |
Cristiano Ronaldo ended a three-game goal drought as holders Real Madrid won 2-0 at Schalke 04 on Wednesday to take a big step towards the Champions League quarter-finals and equal the competition record with a 10th straight win.
The world player of the year headed in after 26 minutes for his 73rd Champions League goal with Real's first chance and he set up Marcelo to make it seven wins for the Spanish side in seven Champions League games this season and 10 in a row.
Real's victory was nowhere near as emphatic as last season's 6-1 romp at Schalke at the same stage of the competition but it was a much-needed confidence boost for Carlo Ancelotti's team after a lacklustre start to the year in Spain.
‘Cristiano is not obsessed with scoring’
"Anything can happen in the Champions League. We are humble and we know that to get through we have to work hard like we did today," Marcelo told Spanish television. "We have a two-goal advantage but the tie is not over.
"Cristiano is not obsessed with scoring. Goals come when the team works together," he said of his team mate.
Looking to become the first team to retain the Champions League title, Real host Schalke in the second leg on March 10.
"The quality made the difference," Schalke coach Di Matteo said.
"They have superb players and that is why they are the title holders. They had one chance and scored two goals."
Brazilian Marcelo ended any lingering German hopes with a powerful shot 11 minutes from the end after good work from Ronaldo to keep Real firmly on course for a record-extending 11th triumph in Europe's premier club competition.
Porto hold Basel amid controversy over disallowed goal
Porto hit back with a late Danilo penalty to hold FC Basel to a 1-1 draw in the Champions League on Wednesday amid controversy over a goal for the Portuguese visitors which was disallowed after a long delay and consultation between match officials.
Basel, who progressed through the group stage at the expense of Liverpool, led for three quarters of the round of 16 first leg after Derlis Gonzalez gave them an 11th minute lead on a freezing night.
Two-time winners Porto kept their unbeaten record in this year's competition intact when fullback Danilo stroked home a penalty with 11 minutes to play after a handball by 36-year-old former Argentina defender Walter Samuel.
But the game's talking point was the disallowed Porto goal early in the second half.
The visitors had finished celebrating and were back on the halfway line waiting for the re-start when referee Mark Clattenburg, after a long consultation with his linesman, disallowed Casemiro's goal for offside.
Television replays suggested that two Porto players were offside when Casemiro headed in the rebound after Maicon's header was parried by Basel goalkeeper Tomas Vaclik, but it was the delay which angered the Porto players and coach Julen Lopategui.
Clattenburg had a busy night elsewhere as he booked nine players, five from the Swiss champions and four from their opponents.
Basel scored with the first chance of the game in the 11th minute.
Fabian Frei chipped a perfectly weighted ball over the Porto defence and found Gonzalez who held of his marker and prodded the ball past Porto goalkeeper Fabiano.
